Farrell not concerned at all about Ortiz’s slow spring

Thursday

Mar 20, 2014 at 5:14 PM

FORT MYERS, Fla. — David Ortiz had come to the plate 32 times this spring, entering Thursday night’s game at JetBlue Park. He had two hits — one double, one home run — and two walks. He had struck out 10 times. He was hitting .067 with a .125 on-base

Brian MacPherson Journal Sports Writer brianmacp

FORT MYERS, Fla. — David Ortiz had come to the plate 32 times this spring, entering Thursday night’s game at JetBlue Park. He had two hits — one double, one home run — and two walks. He had struck out 10 times. He was hitting .067 with a .125 on-base percentage.

Don’t think for a second John Farrell is nervous.

“I’m not concerned with David or what he’s done through 30 at-bats,” the manager said. “You watch the BP, and the bat speed is clearly there, the power is there. He is seeing pitches. He’s going to get more every day at-bats starting on Sunday through the remainder of camp. I have no concern with David.”

That Ortiz is on the field at all is a change from last year, when an Achilles injury kept him off the field until the regular season had started.

“He had no at-bats (in spring training) and about 15 at-bats in Triple-A and had one of the better years of his career,” Farrell said.

Two years ago, Ortiz hit .228 with a .254 on-base percentage in 59 plate appearances in spring training — and then he hit .318 with a .415 on-base percentage and .611 slugging percentage in the regular season, posting the third-highest OPS of his career.

Twitter: @brianmacp

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